Groundwater Use in Maine
Overview1
Total
Groundwater (mgd — fresh, not saline)................................................ 99
Percentage of total freshwater* supply for state........................ 24.4%
Public Supply
Groundwater (mgd).................................................................................. 27.7
Percentage of total groundwater..................................................... 27.9%
Percentage of total public supply.................................................... 30.3%
Individual Household
Groundwater (mgd).................................................................................. 33.0
Percentage of total groundwater..................................................... 33.2%
Percentage of total individual household supply....................... 100%
Groundwater’s Role in
Maine’s Economic Vitality
• Approximately 112,000 known residential wells statewide.2
• 326 community water systems use groundwater for 217,000
people3
• 368 non-community, non-transient water systems use
groundwater for 64,300 people4
• 1,100 non-community, transient water systems use
groundwater for 174,000 people5
• 649 irrigation wells used serving 540 farms and 11,300
acres6
Irrigation
Groundwater (mgd).................................................................................. 2.51
Percentage of total groundwater..................................................... 2.53%
Percentage of total irrigation............................................................. 22.2%
Livestock/Aquaculture
Groundwater (mgd).................................................................................. 27.5
Percentage of total groundwater..................................................... 27.7%
Percentage of total livestock/aquaculture.................................... 55.9%
Industrial, Self-Supplied
Groundwater (mgd).................................................................................. 6.54
Percentage of total groundwater..................................................... 6.58%
Percentage of total industrial, self-supplied................................ 3.41%
Mining
Groundwater (mgd).................................................................................. 1.14
Percentage of total groundwater..................................................... 1.15%
Percentage of total mining................................................................. 23.4%
Thermoelectric
Groundwater (mgd).................................................................................. 0.96
Percentage of total groundwater..................................................... 0.97%
Percentage of total thermoelectric.................................................. 3.58%
(mgd = million gallons per day)
*All totals and ratios are measures of freshwater only.
US Geological Survey, November 2014 report on 2010 water use.
Maine Department of Health and Humans Services, Division of Environmental Health Drinking Water Program
3
US EPA Federal Safe Drinking Water Information System Data for 2014.
4
Ibid.
5
Ibid.
6
Census of Agriculture 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey.
1
2
NGWA
SM
The Groundwater
Association
Address 601 Dempsey Road, Westerville, Ohio 43081-8978 U.S.A.
Phone 800 551.7379 • 614 898.7791 Fax 614 898.7786
Email ngwa@ngwa.org Websites NGWA.org and WellOwner.org
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Maine’s Groundwater Industry Employment
Men and women working to provide and protect Maine’s groundwater resources
for the benefit of people, business, and our environment.
Maine’s Contracting Employment
Drill and service water wells, install and service pumps, install and service point of use water treatment
devices. This portion of the industry is characterized by small firms, many of which are multi-generation
family-owned and operated.7
• 53 firms employ an estimated 177 people8
• Annual estimated sales of $38.5
Maine’s Scientists and Engineers Employment
Geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, geochemists, geophysicists, microbiologists, regulators.
Environmental Consulting9
NAICS 54162: Establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance on environmental
issues, such as the control of environmental contamination from pollutants, toxic substances, and
hazardous materials.
• 125 firms employ an estimated 333 people
• Annual estimated sales of $51 million
Remediation10
NAICS 56291: Establishments include those engaged in remediation and cleanup of contaminated
buildings, mine sites, soil, or groundwater.
• 32 firms employ an estimated 439 people
• Annual estimated sales of $65.0 million
Public Service and Universities, Colleges, and Research Centers
• Many more dedicated individuals
InfoUSA, SIC 1781, March 2015.
Barnes Reports: Remediation Services Industry (NAICS 56291); C. Barnes & Co., 2015.
9
Barnes Reports: Environmental Consulting Services Industry (NAICS 54162); C. Barnes & Co., 2015.
10
Barnes Reports: Remediation Services Industry (NAICS 56291); C. Barnes & Co., 2015.
7
8
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